This action was based on three Severity Level II problems consisting of multiple individual violations, one Severity Level III problem not assessed a civil penalty, and numerous Severity Level IV violations. The violations were grouped into a number of broad categories, namely, numerous longstanding deficiencies in engineering programs and practices, including plant design, design control, and engineering support, some of which led to significant safety equipment being inoperable or degraded for extended periods; numerous operational deficiencies, including inadequate procedures, failure to follow procedures, and inadequate corrective actions, which led to an event in which nitrogen gas was allowed to intrude into the reactor coolant system; and inadequate implementation of the emergency preparedness program during the August 1996 exercise.